In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with rotational atherectomy radial access is safer and as efficient as femoral access

Introduction

Transfemoral approach (TFA) may be preferred access site in order to facilitate complex percutaneous procedures such as rotational atherectomy (RA). Notwithstanding, there is a growing evidence that transradial approach (TRA) is associated with lower access site complication rates and even lower mortality. The aim was to assess in‐hospital and 1‐year outcomes in patients undergoing RA using TRA, in comparison to TFA.

Methods

A single center observational study included all consecutive patients, who underwent RA from 2010 to 2015. Primary endpoints were procedural success, in‐hospital mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary endpoints were 1‐year all‐cause mortality and MACE.

Results

The study included 177 patients, 69% in TRA group and 31% in TFA group. Except for male sex and logistic Euroscore II there were no differences in common risk factors. There was no difference in procedural success (95% vs 87%, P = 0.07) with even a trend in favor of TRA. Performing RA via TRA lower amount of contrast volume (P = 0.009) was used and hospital stay after the procedure was shorter (P = 0.004). Periprocedural complication rates were similar, however patients with TFA had significantly higher rate of major access site bleedings (13% vs 1%, P = 0.001), with no differences in mortality and other adverse events both in‐hospital and during 1‐year observation.

Conclusions

Even though RA is a demanding technique, when performed via TRA allows to maintain the same procedural success and long‐term results in comparison to TFA, reduces in‐hospital major access site bleedings, lowers the amount of contrast media and shortens hospital stay.